Coin-controlled type-writer locking mechanism.



E. OOLWELL, JR. COIN CONTROLLED T YPE WRITER LOOKING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATTON FILED 0013.1, 1908.

923,143. L Patented June 1, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

. M M I u Wituaow o '7 O I QQWT Q? AM Chg/1P E. QOLWELL, JR. COIN CONTROLLED TYPE WRITER LOGKING MEGHANISM.

APPLVIOATION FILED 00T.1, 1908.

923,143. Patented June 1, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. GOLWELL, JR. COIN CONTROLLED TYPE WRITER LOCKING MECHANISM. APPLICATION FILED 0CT.1, 190B.

923, Patented June 1, 1909. 1%: a sums-sum: a.

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I E. GOLWELL, JR. COIN CONTROLLED TYPE WRITER LOOKING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED 0OT.1, 1908. 7

923,143. Patented June 1, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Elvwzntoz wamwm I Q I .MMCLML *1 B. GOLWELL, JR.

(JOIN CONTROLLED TYPE WRITER LOOKING MECHANISM APPLICATION FILED 00121, 1908.

923, 143. Patented June 1, 1 909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 6- arms Q/vifnmm H UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE COLWELL, J R., oEeREENsBoRo, NORTH "CAROLINA.

COIN-CONTROLLED TYPE-WRITER LOCKING MECHANISM.

I No. 923,143.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Pagent ed June 1, 1909.

Application filed October 1, 1908. Serial No. 455,632.

. To-all whom it'may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE OoLwELL, J r., a citizen of the United States, residing at Greensboro, in the county of Guilford, State,

of North Carolina, have invented certain new I and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Type-WriterLocking Mechanism; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description .of'the same,

reference *bein had to the accom anying drawings,form1ng a part of this speci cation,

and-to the characters of reference marked thereon. I

The present invention relates to coin controlled or actuated mechanism for locking atypewrit'er against operation until released byt 1e deposit of a coin of proper denomination, and the objects of the invention are to provide a slmple arrangement which may be applied to typewriters of ordinary construction, when so desired, and in which the resetting of the look is dependent upon the actuation of the printing mechanism of the typewriter.

A further object of the invention is to providea mechanism adapted to receive coins of different denominations and to hold the looking devices out of engagement during the operation of the printing mechanism during the printing of a greater or less length of composition determined by the value of the coin deposited.

A further object of the invention isto provide justification and safety devices whereby the parts will be restored to a definite starting position to insure the rlooking of .the

- rinting mechanism when a predetermined ength of composition has been printed and whereby danger of the parts being set or held in unlocked position during the rinting of a greater length'of compositio than that for which payment has been ma e, is eliminated.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:

1 Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of an appa- .a plan view of that ratus embodying the resent invention, only a portion of some 0 the key levers of theprinting mechanism being shown. Fig. 2 is art of the aparatus which is. adapted to be ocated below t e ordinary base of the typewriter. Fig. 3 isa longitudinal section in a vertical plane and showing the coin slides and coin engaging tri ping levers. 'Fi 4 is a detail section loo in at the oppos1te side of the overthrow check ar shown in Fi 1. Fig. 5 is a tra sverse section in a vertical plane indicated y the line-5 5 in Fl .6. Fig. 6 is a detail sectionin a horizonta plane indicated generally by the dotted line 6 of Fig. 5. F1g.'7 is a vertical section on the line 7-7, Fig. 2. Fig.

8 is a view looking at the innerside of the disks and drums at the rear end of the screw -shaft, parts being shown broken away and in and primary parts of the locking mechanism are preferably mounted in a housing A, of substantially rectangular form. The casing is adapted to be located beneath the ordinary. base C1 of a'typewriter, and the mechanism of the present invention is connected with the printing mechanism through the typewriter carriage connections, whereby upon the advance of the carriage as the sucredetermined number of characters have been printed, the lock will be released to lock the printing mechanism against further operation.

In the preferred arrangement, a spring cessive characters are printed and after a g drum D is journaled at the back of'the housing A and is adapted to receive the flexible connection leading to the paper carriage of the typewriter, the said spring) rum D, together with the winding arbor for increasing the tension of the spring being similar in" all essential respects to the ordinary s ring' drum in common use on ty ewriters. ournaled, preferably, in line with the axis of the spring drum D, is a screw shaft E, the connection between the shaft E and spring drum being formed by a clutch connection D (Figs. 8 and 9), whereby the screw shaft will be advanced during the advance movement of the carriage mechanism, but will not be moved during the return movement of the;

carria e.

A s eeve F, having a longitudinal slot f in one side, surrounds the shaft E between its bearin s. Slidably mountedon this sleeve F is a ock carriage G, provided with a nose 9 adapted to pass in beneath a pivo'tall mounted locking bar H when the carriage p is .at the left hand extreme of its movement, as illustrated in Fig. 1. The locking bar H is preferably mounted on a rocking member h hinged beneath the base of the typewriter and having a projection h with W ich the locking nose 9 directly engagies, whereby the bar is forced up under the ey levers H of the typewriter to prevent their depression and lock the printing mechanism against further operation.

A spring drum I is connected with the carriage by a flexible connection I and furnishes the ower for advancing the carriage G toward t e left, while a coin control mechanism to be presently described effects the movement of the carriage in the opposite direction or toward the right a distance dependent upon the value of the coin deposited. When .movedtoward the right, the carriage is ada ted to be connected with the screw shaft by a spring-pressed pivotal awl K,

- (Fig. 6), adapted to cooperate with t e screw threads 0 of the said shaft. The teeth of the awl and the screw threads are preferably ormed with inclined and abrupt faces,

whereby the movement toward the right will be free, but the rotation of the shaft E is necessary to permit movement of the carriage toward the left. The pawl is conveniently mounted on the carriage in osition to work through the slot f in the sl eeve F, and, in the preferred construction, rovision is made for permitting the paw to run out of the screw thread just prior to the instant when the lock is to become effective, and rovision is also made for disengaging or holding the pawl out of engagement during the movement of the carriage to set the look when a coin has been inserted.

By reference to Fi s. 1, 2, 3 and 5 it will be seen that a slide gui e L is located in the casing A, said slide guide having longitudinal slots 1 therein for the reception of slides or push-bars m, the number of slots and pushbars corresponding to the number of colns of different denominations ada ted to be received b the apparatus. T e depth of the slots an width andthickness of the push bars approximate the dimensions of the coin ,to be received. To insert a coin in any one of the slots, the push-bars are drawn out until the coin apertures N (Figs. 2 and 3) are open, a coin is inserted, and the'bars again pushed in, carrying the coin along the slot toward the discharge opening N Mounted on the .carriage G in alinement with and immediately above each of the slots Z is a tripping lever O, havin a projection 0 adapted to extend 'down mto the slot and to be elevated by the advancing coin. Also pivotall mounted on the carriage in alinement wit each of the slots, is an actuating lever or pawl Pwith which the end or projecting nose 0 of the tripping lever O is adapted to engage when its forward end is elevated by a coin, thereby depressin the actuating lever or pawl in front of t 6 coin, and in effect lockin the coin between the actuating lever or paw and the push-bar. With the coin in this position (see Fig. 3) inward movement of the pushbar of necessity carries the carriage with it.

By locating the tripping lever and actuating pawls at differentpoints longitudinally of the screw F, as shown in Fig. 2, it is obvious that a coin inserted in one slot will advance the carriage G farther than would a coin inserted in another slot.

For holding the pawl K out of engagement with the screw shaft E, when the push-bars are drawn outwardly, a pawl release bar Q is mounted parallel with the push-bars M and Vided on its bottom edges with inclines g 9 adapted to cooperate with similar fixed inclinesg g, on the casing for elevating and depressing the said bar when it is moved longitudinally. Said inclines cause the elevation of the bar except when in its innermost position, and hence the awl K can only be engaged with the threa s of the screw shaft when the push-bars have been pushed in and the bar is in its lower position.

To prevent possible overthrow of the car riage G when the push bars are pushed inwardly after a coin has been inserted, an overthrow check bar R is mounted at one side of and parallel with the bar-Q, and so as to have a vertical movement parallel with said bar. The preferred means for mounting the, overthrow check bar consists of a pair of links 7", Figs. 1 and 4, pivotally connected at one end with the bar and at the opposite end with the casing A or projections thereon. The bar is adapted to be depressed by a s ring r at one end and to be raised into its e evated position by a pin 1' projecting from the side of the bar Q, whereby, when the push bars and bar Q are in their innermost position, the overthrow check bar R is elevated and held in its elevated osition. The upper edge of the overthrow c eck bar is provided with shoulders or notches R, corresponding in number to the different positions to be occupied by the carriage when pushed inwardly by coins of different denominations, and for cooperation with these shoulders R the carriage G is provided with pendent upon the value of the coin inserted.

projection or way S on one side,

mass

the handle B the overthrow checkbar drops away from the carriage in which position it remains until the push bars are approaching .theirinnermost position, when the pin 0* striking the inclined end T of the bar It ele vates the latter into position for one of its shoulders R to 006 erate with the pawl R the carriage has een advanced by a coin of lar e denomination the pawl R will have passe be ond the first and second shoulders R and wi 1 be in position to engage the third shoulder, and it will be understood that the shoulders are positioned to cooperate with the'pawl R in accordancewith the movement of the carriage, which latter is de- To revent any scrupu ous person ho paratus in such manner that the printing of composition may be continued indefinitely,

1possibility -of an unprovision is made whereby the locking bar .H'

1s held up in its locking position until the push bars have been pushed in'to'a point where the coin is discharged, and provision is further made for insuring the return of the locking bar to its locking position whenever an attempt is made to draw the push bars outwardly, thus checking any attempt on the partof the user to first unlock the machine andthen while holding it unlocked, by

depressing one of the typewriter keys, to set the parts in an unlocke position.

As amost convenient means for accomplishing the above mentioned ends, an addi- '35 tional 'ush bar S is provided, extending. par- .allel-w1th the push bars m and adapted to be moved in unison therewith. This push bar S is provided with a longitudinalli extending est seen in igs. 2, 5 and.7, said way S being of a length practicallycoincident with the range of movement of the push bars a (1 having its upper surface'in position to ass beneaththe lower ends of two links S depending from the supgmrt h of the locking bar H. These links 8, areguided at their lower ends by a guide piece s, the link S being confined to a substantially vertical movement, while the link S 5 moves vertically and may swing to a limited extentin the direction of the initial movement of the 'way S. The link S is provided on its lower end with'an incline .9 adapted to cogperate with a similar incline S (dotted lines, 1g. 7), whereby the'link' is forced upwardly,

lifting the lockingbar by the initial move ment of thesaid way S. The link S and the end of the way S are so positioned with relation to each other that when the link is elevated any movement at allof the way causes it to pass under the link, and it is becauseof this close adjustmentthat the link permitted to have a slight swinging movement, inasmuch as the way'may, under some circumstances, begin its movement before the links are, fully elevated, but the adjustment ding or setting the ap of the parts is such thatwhen elevated the vlink S immediately swings back to its vertical position, its movement into its vertical position being aided by the spring 8".

Inasmuch as the present apparatus is de! signed to permit of the. printin of a certain definite length of composition y successive impressions. of the printin mechanism, and in order that the length 0 composition permitted to be printed by the insertion of succeeding coins may not vary, even within small'limits, provision is made wherebythe gearing or screw which controls the amount of printing permitted to be done shall always be brought to an initial. or starting point. The bringing of the gearing or screw to an initial or starting point may be conveniently termed a justification of the parts, inasmuch as it always insures the starting 'of the rinting at a certain definite oint with re ation to the screw, and throug the operation of the screw and connections heretofore de-- scribed the printing operation can only be continued during the movement of the gearing or screw for a definite distance. Various mechanical appliances for accomplishing this endwill at once suggest themselves to those -skilledin the art, but in the preferred mechanism means are provided for turning the screw shaft to a certain initial or starting oint whenever the push bars are drawn out or the insertion of a coin, although it is obvious that a similar justification of the screw may be eiiectedat'the beginning or ending of e brought into engagement or arrested,

at its forward end through a slot and pin connection t with ajorked lever T adapted to cooperate with a in or projection T carried by the way S an push ar S. In operation the' pin T passes in between the arms of the lever T moving the same fromthe position indicated in full lines in Fi 7 to the position indicated in dotted lines W enever the pushbars are drawn outwardly, the inward move- .ment of the push-bars rostorin the lever to the position indicated in. ful lines. A spring 1) serves to .hold the lever T in one position or the other, and it will be understood that when the lever is in the 'positlon indicated in dotted lines the nose of the stop lever T is in position to cooperate with the stop T, and in order to bring the stop, T"

around in position to engiige the nose of the stop lever a spring drum (Fig. 9) 1s mounted on a sleeve U surrounding the end of the 7 locking shaft E and connected by a flexible connection a with a hook U supported in a fixed guide way a and held in osition to cooperate with a projecting arm mounted on the way S and push-bar S. A pawl V is mounted on the disk D in position to cooperate with a single notch or shoulder V in the spring drum U, and the parts are so positioned and proportioned that a sufficient movement shall be im arted to the spring drum to pick up the dis D and screw shaft, regardless of the position in which these parts may have been left by a previous operation, and to move the same around until the sto T will contact with the nose t of the lever just as the push bars reach the outer extreme limit of their movement.

In operation, the ush-bars are drawn outwardly by the hand e B and a coin of the desired denomination is dropped into the proper slot. As the push-bars are drawn outwardly through the connections last above described, the screw is restored to its initial or starting position, thereby justifyin it, and if an attempthas been made to ho d the locking bar down, the incline .5 cooperatin with the incline s has returned the ar to its elevated position. The push bars are then moved inwardly, pushing the coin in front of them, and the com striking the trip lever O elevates its forward end and depresses its rear end, thereby causing the pawl P to swing downwardly against the tension of its spring 1) and into position to be engaged by the coin. Farther inward movement of the push-bars through the interposition of' the coin moves the carria e G rearwardly, releasing the printing mec anism of the typewriter, and as the push-bars reach their innermost position the coin is discharged and the pawl K moves into engagement with the threads of the screw shaft to hold the carriage in its retracted position.

. The inward movement of the parts has released the nose t from the stop T and the way S has. moved beyond the ends of the links S S whereby the printing mechanism is left entirely free for manipulation, but it will be noted that the locking bar H is notreleased owing to the action of the links S and way S until the push bars have reached a position where the coin has been discharged from in front of the pushbars and is deposited in a receptacle provided for the purpose. As the printing progresses, the screw shaft is rotated, permitting the carriage to advance under the influence of its spring drum I, and finally the pawl K rides out of the thread on the screw shaft and the spring drum I asserting itself drives the carriage forwardly with a sufficient impetus to insure the looking of the printing mechanism by elevating the locking bar H.

The mechanism herein described does not retard or interfere in any way with the normal operation of the printing mechanism, save to lock the same when'the proper moment arrives. In the ordinary operation of the printing mechanism the presence of the locking mechanism is not manifest at all, nor

is wear or strain on the machine increased in means for advancing said carriage into locking position, adapted to be controlled by the prmting mechanism of a typewrlter, of a guide way forming a slot, a push-bar working in said slot, and a projection carried by the carriage and adapted to extend into the slot whereby inward movement of the push bar retracts the carriage; substantially as described.

2. In an apparatus such as described, the combination with the lock carriage, screw for controlling the advance movement of the carriage, and pawl connections between the screw and carriage, of the guide-ways forming slots, push-bars mounted in said guideways. and rojections on the carriage adapted to pass into the slots for cooperation with an interposed means advanced 1n one of said slots by the push-bar; substantially as described.

3. In an apparatus such as described, the combination with the lock carriage and a manually operated check control retracting mechanism for the carriage embodying a guide way forming a slot and push-bar workmg therein, of a ratchet pawl mounted on the carriage, and a screw with the threads of which the said pawl engages to control the reverse movement of the carriage.

4. In an apparatus such as described, the combination with the lock carriage anda manually operated coin controlled retracting mechanism for the carriage embodying a guide way forming a slot and push-bar worklng therein, of a pawl mounted on the carriage, a member with which said pawl ooo erates to control the advance movement of t 1e carriage and means whereby said pawl is disengaged from said member during the movement of the push-bar to retract the carriage.

5. In an apparatus such as-described, the combination with the lock carriage, the screw shaft controlling the advance movement of thecarriage, and a spring for advancing the carriage, of a lurality of guide ways forming slots, pushars in said slots, and projections onthe carriage entering said slots at difierent'points longitudinally of the slots; whereby the carriage may be manually retracted diflerent distances by the interposition of coins of different denominations.

seams 6. In a locking mechanism for typewriters, the combination with the lock carriage, screw shaft adapted to be moved in accord with the printing mechanism of the typewriter, pawl connection between the carriage and screw shaft and spring for advancing the carriage, of the guide-ways forming slots, projections on the carriage entering said guide-ways at different points longitudinally oi the slots, ush-bars working in the slots, and a )awl re ease member moving in unison with the push bars for disengaging the carriageand screw-shaft; substantiallyas described.

7 In a locking mechanism for typewriters, v

the combination with the lock carriage, spring for advancing the carriage into locking-positiml, and screw shaft for restraining the advance of the carriage adapted to be controlled by the printing mechanism of the typewriter, of the guide ways forming slots, project-ions on the carriage entering said slots at diiferent points longitudinally of the slots, push-bars working in said slots, and a connection intermediate the carriage and push-bar when the tri 9. In a locking mec the combination with the lock carriage, and means for controlling its advance adapted to )ping lever is elevated.

, be'moved in accord with the printing mechanism of the typewriter, of a guide-way formmg 'aslot, a push-bar working in said slot, a

tripping lever mounted on the carriage and 1 liy the tripping lever and moved downwardly rojected into the slot, and a pawl controlled when the tripping lever is elevated; substantially as described.

1 0. In a locking mechanism for typewriters, the combination of the following instrument alities, to wit: a lock carriage, manually operated check controlled means for moving the carriage varying distances em bodying pushbars and a uide way having slots inwhich the same wor and means controlled by said push-bar for arresting the movement of the carriage at the desired point.

11. In a locking mechanism for typewriters, the combination of the following ins'trumentalities, to wit: a lock carriage, means for moving the carriage into unlocked position embodying a push-bar and guide wav having a slot in, which said push-bar anisni fortypewriters,

moves, a pawl mounted on the carriage and a stop-bar moved into position to cooperate with the said pawl by the movement of the push-bar, wherebyoverthrow ofthe carriage is prevented.

12. In a locking mechanism for typewriters, the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit :a lock carria manually operated means for moving t e carriage into unlock position, an overthrow check embodying an overthrow check bar having a plurality of sto shoulders for the carriage, connections w ereb the bar is, moved into operative position y the manually operated means for arresting the movementof the carriage and connections whereby the parts are restored to lockingposition by the operation of the typewriter.

13. In a locking mechanism for typewriters, the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit; a lock carriage, a manually operated carrier for moving the carriage into unlocked position, and a looking mechanism controlled by the carrier independently of the lock carriage and operative forlocking the typewriter when the carrier is moved away from its normal position and the lock carriage is. in its unlocked position.

14. In a locking mechanism for typewriters, the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit; a lock carriage, a longitudinally movable and manually operated carrier for moving the lock carriage into its unlocked position, a guide way moved by the carrier, and a locking link cooperating with said guide way when the manually operated carrieris moved away from its normal position, whereby the effective to lock the'typewriter, except when the carrier is moved to its innermost position.

15. In a locking mechanism such as described, the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit: a' lock carriage, a manually operated slide bar for moving said carriage into its unlocked position through the interposition of a coin, a guide bar moved by the slide bar, and a link cooperating with the said guide bar to form a lock during the travel of the slide bar from and to its normal position.

16. In a locking mechanism'for typewriters, the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit; a lock carriage, a screw gearing for advancing said carriage into locking position, a manually operated slide for moving said carriage into its unlocked position, a guide way movable with said slide, a vertically movable locking link ocking mechanism is cooperate with said guide way when t e slide I is withdrawn from its normal position, a second vertically movablelocking link and inclined-faces on said last mentioned link and with guide-way for moving the locking links verticall into locking position when the slide is drawn from its normal position.

17. In a locking mechanism for typewriters, the combination of the following instrumentalities, to wit; a lock carriage, manually operated slide for moving the carriage into unlocked position, gearin for advancin the carria e from its unlocked to its locke position a apted to be operated by the printing mechanlsm of the t ewriter, and a justifying mechanism for said gearing operated by the slide.

18. In a locking mechanism for ty writers, the combination of the following m- Q strumentalities, to wit; a look carriage, manually operated slide for moving the carriage into its unlocked position, a screw operated by. the printing mechanism of the typewriter for controlling the movement of said-carriage into its locking position, a movable justifying stop for the screw controlled by the slide, and means for turning the screw into its justified position by the movement of the slide.

EUGENE ooLwELL, JR.

Y Witnesses: p

M. R. TAYLOR, D. W. STARBUCK. 

